Keyless locking switch



Dec i0, 1935 w. H. LEINENwl-:BER 2,023,894

KEYLESS LOCKING SWITCH Filed Sept. 23, 1932 T15- 2 JI-15-1 f l l] I Patented Dec. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to a keyless locking switch, and while primarily designed for use as an ignition' switch in the ignition system of a motor vehicle, it is obvious that the device may be employed for any other purposes wherein it is found to be applicable.

The primary object of the invention is to provide 'a keyless ignition switch of the character described, which embodies a combination locking mechanism rendering same inoperable by unauthorized persons not acquainted with the combination involved, and under such conditions, greatly reducing the theft of motor vehicles.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of the class stated, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, durable and efcient in its use, conveniently operable, compact, positive in its action, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and install.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but it is to be understood that the latter is merely illustrative of an embodiment of the invention, and that the actual needs of practice and manufacture may require certain mechanical variations from the embodiment shown. It is, therefore, not intended to limit the invention to the disclosure thereof herein illustrated but rather to dene such limitations to the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:-

Figure l is a side view, partly in cross section, of a locking switch constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are, respectively front and rear views thereof.

Figure 4 is a front view of the supporting frame.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross sectional View of the device with the contact holder removed therefrom.

Figure 6 is a top view of the contact holder partially in cross section.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are rear end views of the contact disks embodied in the present invention.

Figure 10 is a reduced side View of an ignition coil embodying my improved ignition switch.

Referring in detail to the drawing I denotes an integrally formed supporting frame comprising a, large circular end plate 2 provided with a cen- (Cl. 20G-43) trally disposed, cylindrical and forwardly projecting bearing sleeve 3. IThe end plate 2 further carries a spacing collar 4, which is centrally disposed on the rear side of the former. A reduced stem 5 is formed integral with the spacing col- 5 lar 4 and extends rearwardly from the latter. The supporting frame I is provided with a-bore 6, which extends through the axial centers of the bearing sleeve 3, end plate 2, spacing collar 4 and stern 5. 10

The bottom of the bearing sleeve 3 is formed with a plurality of cavities 1, which are arranged in a circular row and regularly spaced relatively to each other. A cylindrical adjusting plug 8 is revolubly mounted in the bearing sleeve 15 3 and projects from the latter. The adjusting plug 8 is formed with a pair of diametrically opposed pockets 9 having their open ends disposed toward the bottom of the bearing sleeve 3. A spiral spring I0 is mounted in each of the pockets 20 9, and a ball II is mounted at the open end of each of the latter, against the ends of respective springs I0, for engaging in the cavities 1 in the bottom of the bearing sleeve 3, for the purpose to be described. i 25 A shaft I2, having squared ends, is revolubly mounted in the bore 5. The front squared end of the shaft I2 extends through a corresponding shaped aperture in the adjusting plug 8, and the latter is xed thereto by means of a screw I3. 30 A spacing collar I 4 is formed integral with the shaft I2 and abuts against the free rear end of the stem 5.

My improved locking switch embodies three contact disks, respectively indicated at I5, I6 35 and I1, which are constructed from any suitable insulation material. The front disk I5 is revolubly mounted on the stem 5 and disposed against the spacing collar 4 carried by the end plate 2. The intermediate disk I8 is likewise rev- 40 olubly mounted on the stem 5 and disposed against the spacing collar Ill on the shaft I2. The front and intermediate disks I5 and I6 are spaced from each other by a spacing collar I8, which is interposed therebetween on the stem 5.

The squared rear end of the shaft I2 engages in a correspondingly shaped aperture in the rear disk il, and the latter is secured thereto, to turn with a shaft I2, by means of a screw I9. The spacing collars 1i, I4 and I8 are of uniform thick- 50 ness and consequently the contact disks I5, I6 and I'I are uniformly spaced relatively to each other.

The front disk I5 is provided with a regular, comparatively long arcuate slot 2t. The inter-55 mediate disk I6 is likewise provided with a regular, relatively short arcuate slot 2|. A shifting rod 22 is xed in the rear disk I1 and projects forwardly through the slots 20 and 2I in respective disks I5 and I6, as clearly illustrated in Figure 5.

A pair of closely spaced Contact pins 23 and 24 is embedded in each of the disks I5, I@ and I1. The contact pins 23 and 24 extend transversely through respective disks and are disposed adjacent to the peripheral edges of the latter.

A contact holder 25 preferably constructed from molded insulation material, is Secured to the rear side of the end plate 2 by means of screws 23, which engage in the top 21 and bottom bar 28 of said contact holder.

A pair of single contact fingers 29, two pairs of double contact ngers indicated at 33 and 3|, and a single contact finger 32, are molded or otherwise embedded in the top 21 of the contact holder 25. All of the contact fingers are flat and resilient, and depend 'below the holder top 21 to frictionally engage respective peripheral edge margins of respective disks I5, I6 and I1 in the arrangement to be described. Each associated pair of contact ngers is spaced a distance commensurate to the distance between the Contact pins 23 and 24, and contact with the latter to establish the operating circuit of a motor vehicle ignition system.

The single pair of contact fingers 23 engage the front side of the front disk I5. One of said pair of contact iingers 29 is joined with a resilient Contact plate 33 by means of a conductor 34, and the other of said pair of Contact fingers 29 is joined with a resilient contact plate 35 -by means of a conductor 36. The conductors 34 and 36 are preferably embedded in the holder top 21. The contact plates 33 and 35 are fixedly mounted against the rear side of the back 31 of the holder 25.

The front legs of the pair of double Contact iingers 30 engage the rear side o'f the front disk I5, and the rear legs thereof engage the front side of the intermediate disk I6. In like manner, the front legs of the pair of double contact fingers 3l engage the rear side of the intermediate disk I6, and the rear legs thereof engage the front side of the reardisk I1.

The single contact iinger 32 engages the rear side of the rear disk I1, and is of a width commensurate to the combined widths of each pair of double contact fingers 3E! and 3I. The contact finger 32 is joinedrwith a resilient contact y plate 38 by means of a conductor 39, which is embedded in the holder back 31. The contact plate 38 is fixed in position on the rear side of the latter.

. A knurled operating knob 4i) is secured to the outer end of the adjusting plug B, by means of a set screw 4I or in any other suitable manner, for facilitating the operation of the device. 'The knob 30 is provided with an indent 40' which is disposed adjacent tothe periphery thereof.

My improved locking switch is designed to adapt same for insertion into the front end of an ignition co'il casing 42, as clearly illustrated in Figure l0. To secure the locking switch in position in the ignition coil casing 42, the front end of the latter is provided with a plurality of ears 43, which extend in notches 44, formed in the peripheral edge of the end plate 2, and are bent over to engage the front side of the latter.

The casing 42 and the coil contained therein, are of the usual type commonly employed in connection with the ignition system of a motor vehicle. The ignition coil is positioned directly rearward of the motor vehicle instrument panel 45 as shown in dot and dash lines in Figure l0. The panel 45 is provided with an aperture to permit the extension of the operating knob 40 i forwardly of the former.

The usual ignition coil is provided with the embodied leads 43, 41 and 28, adapted for connection with the battery, gas gauge, and interrupter, l0

respectively. When the locking switch is incorporated with the ignition coil, the contact plate 38 in connected with the battery lead 45 through the interposed primary oi the ignition coil, theV contact plate 33 is connected with the gas gauge l5 lead 41, and the contact plate 35 is connected with the interrupter lead 48.

In operating my improved locking Switch, the adjusting plug 8 is partially rotated in alternate directions by the manipulation or the operating 20 knob 43. When the adjusting plug 8 is shifting in its bearing sleeve V3, the balls l I carried thereby will engage in respective cavities 1 and im part a most pronounced and unmistakable feeling to the fingers or the operator td operate the Z5 locking switch without employing his vision in daytime or during the night-time without light.

It is evident that relative lengths of the slots 2i! and 2l, in the disks I5 and I, and the position or" the contact pins 23 and 24 of one of 30- said disks with respect to contact pins of the others of said disks relatively to the associated slots in the latter, are all factors in determining the disk adjustments required to effect the switch operation, and may be widely varied 35 to provide a multiplicity of diierent operating actions. Further, the number of disks employed Vmay obviously be increased to permit a still greater variety of operating actions.

In practice, the operation o'f my improved lock- 40 ing switch is as follows:-Assuming that the disks I5, I6 and I1 are constructed and arranged to function on the known sequential movements of four, seven and three, the knob 40 is first given one complete or more turns in the clockwise di- 40 rection so that the shifting pin 22 will be at an end of the slots 20 and 2I in the disks I5 and I6, and the indent 43' will be disposed upwardly, as shown in Figure 4.

The knob 40 is now turned in the clockwise 50 been engaged by the pair of single co'ntact ngersw 29 and the front legs of the pair of double contact fingers 30.

The knob 4U is then turned in the counter clockwise direction until the balls II have engagedrm. While rotating the d seven consecutive cavities 1. knob 4B in such counter clockwise direction, the front disk I5 will not move, but will be held in the contacting position by the engaging contact fingers. The shifting rod 22 will shift idly in` the iong sist 2c in the disk is but will shift the 70 intermediate disk IS, with the shorter slot 2I, until the contacts 23 and M of said disk I6 will have been engaged by the adjacent legs of the two pairs of double contact fingers 3II and 3 I. The

knob 43 is now again turned in the clockwise di-75 rection a distance of three cavities and the contact pins 23'and 24 carried by the rear disk I1 will have been engaged by the rear legs of the pair of double contacts 3| and by the single contact nger 32. The front and intermediate disks I5 and I6 will not move while adjusting the rear disk II, as same are held in their contacting positions by their engagement by respective contact fingers, and the shifting rod 22 will move idly in their slots 20 and 2 I.

'I'he locking switch is now set to complete the operating circuit, and will remain so until it is broken by the movement of the knob 40. By turning the knob 40 to shift either of the disks I5 and I6 out of its contacting engagement, the circuit is opened and the entire process as set forth, must be repeated to again close the switch mechanism. However, by turning the knob 40 in the counter clockwise direction a distance to only disengage the contact pins 23 and 24 of the rear disk I'I from its contact fingers, the circuit may be broken, and again closed by returning the rear disk I1 to the contacting position, provided, however, that either the disks I5 and I6 has not been shifted out of contacting engagement.

Unless the combination of the required predetermined movements of the disks I5, I6 and I'I, is known to the operator, it is impossible to operate the locking switch, and in consequence, motor vehicles equipped with myimprovedlocking switch cannot be operated by unauthorized persons. By providing the single contact ngers 29 and the two double contact fingers 30 and 3| in pairs, it is impossible to set the switch in operative contacting engagement by wiring across the gas gauge and interrupter leads 41 and 48, instead of adjusting the disks I5 and I6 as required.

It will here be noted that, if the gas gauge control were not embodied in the switch structure, the pairs of single and double contact fingers would not be necessary, and a corresponding series of single bridging members could be employed instead. However, as the single contact fingers 29 are not joined, it is necessary to use the arrangement disclosed to complete the circuit between the battery and the interrupter and gas gauge control elements by the use of a switch embodying the features of the present invention.

The present invention provides a most eiiicient device of its kind, which is conveniently operable Without the use of a key, and which is most effective in preventing the unauthorized use of motor vehicles equipped therewith.

What I claim is:

In a locking switch of the character described, the combination of a supporting element; a front, intermediate and rear insulating disk revolubly supported by said element; a pair of closely spaced contact pins extending transversely through the peripheral edge margin of each of said disks; a -M contact holder carried by said element; a pair of single contact fingers depending from said holder and resiliently engaging the front edge margin of said front disk to contact with the contact pins carried by the latter; a pair of double contact-,fingers depending from said holder and resiliently engaging the edge margins of respective adjacent disks to contact with respective contact pins carried by the latter; a single contact nger depending from said holder and resiliently engaging the rear edge margin of said rear disk to contact with the contact pin carried by the latter; a plurality of contact plates carried by said holder; a pair of conductors respectively joining a pair of said contact plates with said pair of c single contact ngers; and a conductor joining said single contact ilnger with another of said contact plates.

WILLIAM H. LEINENWEBER. 

